Culver's Value Baskets — Complete Combo Guide with Prices
Value Baskets are the smartest way to order at Culver's. Every basket bundles your entrée with Crinkle Cut Fries and a medium drink — saving you $2–$3 compared to ordering everything separately. This guide covers every basket option, exact pricing, calorie counts, and which ones give you the best value for your money.
What Exactly Is a Value Basket?
A Value Basket is Culver's version of a combo meal. Pick any entrée from the menu — a ButterBurger, chicken sandwich, tenders, or seafood item — and it comes bundled with a regular order of Crinkle Cut Fries and a medium fountain drink. The math consistently works out in your favor: a medium drink runs ~$2.49 and fries cost ~$2.99 on their own, so the basket upgrade effectively gives you both for about $3 total instead of $5.48. That's a real savings on every single order.
You can also swap out the fries for another side at some locations — side salad, coleslaw, or steamed broccoli are common substitutions. The drink can be upgraded to a large for a small upcharge. It's flexible enough to work whether you're counting calories or going all-in.
Complete Value Baskets Price Table
Here's every Value Basket currently available, with the price, approximate calories, and estimated savings compared to ordering items individually:
| Value Basket | Basket Price | Calories | À La Carte Total | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original ButterBurger | $9.49 | ~850 | ~$11.87 | ~$2.38 |
| ButterBurger Cheese | $9.99 | ~900 | ~$12.27 | ~$2.28 |
| Culver's Deluxe | $10.69 | ~970 | ~$12.97 | ~$2.28 |
| Bacon Deluxe | $11.99 | ~1,040 | ~$14.27 | ~$2.28 |
| Mushroom & Swiss | $11.19 | ~990 | ~$13.47 | ~$2.28 |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | $11.49 | ~980 | ~$13.47 | ~$1.98 |
| Spicy Crispy Chicken | $11.49 | ~980 | ~$13.47 | ~$1.98 |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | $11.49 | ~780 | ~$13.77 | ~$2.28 |
| Chicken Tenders (3 pc) | $9.49 | ~920 | ~$12.27 | ~$2.78 |
| Chicken Tenders (4 pc) | $11.29 | ~1,060 | ~$13.27 | ~$1.98 |
| Buffalo Chicken Tenders (4 pc) | $11.29 | ~1,030 | ~$13.27 | ~$1.98 |
| North Atlantic Cod Sandwich | $11.49 | ~1,020 | ~$13.47 | ~$1.98 |
| North Atlantic Cod Dinner (2 pc) | $13.49 | ~1,240 | ~$15.57 | ~$2.08 |
| Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp (6 pc) | $11.99 | ~930 | ~$13.47 | ~$1.48 |
| Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp Dinner (10 pc) | $13.99 | ~1,180 | ~$16.47 | ~$2.48 |
À la carte totals assume standalone entrée + regular fries ($2.99) + medium drink ($2.49). Savings vary by location.
Which Basket Is the Best Value?
Looking at pure savings-per-dollar, the Chicken Tenders (3-piece) Basket and the Original ButterBurger Basket are the standout deals. You're getting a complete meal for under $10 while saving roughly $2.50–$2.80 compared to ordering the same items separately. The Deluxe Basket is the sweet spot if you want a "full experience" burger meal — it's the most popular basket for a reason.
ButterBurger Baskets: Single vs Double
Any ButterBurger basket can be upgraded to a double or triple patty. The double adds roughly $1.90 to the basket price and ~260 extra calories. Here's the full ButterBurger basket sizing breakdown:
| Burger Basket | Single Basket | Double Basket | Cal (Single) | Cal (Double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original ButterBurger | $9.49 | $11.39 | ~850 | ~1,110 |
| ButterBurger Cheese | $9.99 | $11.89 | ~900 | ~1,190 |
| Culver's Deluxe | $10.69 | $12.59 | ~970 | ~1,230 |
| Bacon Deluxe | $11.99 | $13.89 | ~1,040 | ~1,300 |
| Mushroom & Swiss | $11.19 | $13.09 | ~990 | ~1,250 |
Side Substitutions in Value Baskets
Crinkle Cut Fries are the default side in every basket, but you're not locked in. Most locations let you swap for one of these alternatives:
No upcharge (at most locations): Side salad, coleslaw, steamed broccoli.
Small upcharge (~$1–$2): Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, George's Chili, cup of soup.
Swapping fries for Cheese Curds is the most popular substitution — you're trading ~370 calories of fries for ~510 calories of fried cheese, but honestly nobody orders Cheese Curds because they're watching calories. If you're looking to lighten the meal, steamed broccoli or a side salad keeps the basket under 650 calories with a grilled chicken entrée.
🧺 5 Value Basket Ordering Strategies
- Always go basket. There is no scenario where ordering à la carte beats the basket price if you want fries and a drink. Even if you only want fries (no drink), the basket upgrade is usually cheaper than adding fries alone.
- Don't double up unless you're hungry. The single-patty baskets are already 850–1,000 calories. The double adds another $2 and 260+ calories — it's a lot of food.
- Pair lighter entrées with indulgent sides. Grilled Chicken Basket with Cheese Curds instead of fries is the "best of both worlds" order — grilled protein + fried cheese indulgence.
- Ask about the Flavor of the Day before you order a drink. If there's a great custard flavor, skip the fountain drink and spend that $2.49 on a small Flavor of the Day dish instead. You keep the basket savings on the fries and entrée.
- Use the Delicious Rewards app. Points stack on every basket purchase, and rewards kick in faster when you're spending $10+ per visit. Regular basket buyers hit free-custard rewards quickly.
Value Baskets vs Kids' Meals — Which Is Better for Light Eaters?
If you're not that hungry, a Kids' Meal might actually be the smarter pick. Kids' Meals at Culver's are available to anyone — there's no age restriction. They run $5.29–$5.49 and include a smaller entrée, a side, a drink, and usually a scoop of custard. That's less food and fewer calories at nearly half the price of a Value Basket. The catch: entrée options are limited to ButterBurger, grilled cheese, corn dog, chicken tenders (2 pc), or mac & cheese.